Thoughts from the interface of science, religion, law and culture

After spending several years touring the country as a stand up comedian, Ed Brayton tired of explaining his jokes to small groups of dazed illiterates and turned to writing as the most common outlet for the voices in his head. He has appeared on the Rachel Maddow Show and the Thom Hartmann Show, and is almost certain that he is the only person ever to make fun of Chuck Norris on C-SPAN.

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Wingnut on Wingnut Crime: Rubin vs Erickson and Levin

Mitt Romney publicist lapdog Jennifer Rubin is saying good riddance to Sen. Jim DeMint, who resigned to lead the Heritage Foundation, and says Heritage is making a big mistake by embracing such an extreme figure. She says it will undermine the think tank’s credibility:

Let me first explain why this is very bad indeed for Heritage. Even DeMint would not claim to be a serious scholar. He is a pol. He’s a pol whose entire style of conservatism – all or nothing, no compromise, no accounting for changes in public habits and opinions — is not true to the tradition of Edmund Burke, Russell Kirk and others. By embracing him, Heritage, to a greater extent than ever before, becomes a political instrument in service of extremism, not a well-respected think tank and source of scholarship. Every individual who works there should take pause and consider whether the reputation of that institution is elevated or diminished by this move…

Now for the U.S. Senate, I am sure many senators on both sides are clicking their heels. DeMint has been a destructive force, threatening to primary colleagues, resisting all deals and offering very little in the way of attainable legislation. He has contributed more than any current senator to the dysfunction of that body. He has worsened relations between the House and Senate, as he did in the budget fights in recent years, by meddling and pressuring his home state representative. His departure leaves other senators who seemed impressed with his brand of politics free to find their way to a more constructive position in the body.

Cue the outrage from right wing cheerleaders:

“Romney’s mouthpiece claims to be a conservative and writes ‘good riddance, Mr. DeMint,'” Erick Erickson, the founder of the conservative blog Red State, tweeted. “In the history of ignorant takes on conservative, @JRubinBlogger may have just written the most ignorant thing ever.”

A more vitriolic message comes from conservative radio host Mark Levin: “Go to hell, Jennifer Rubin,” he wrote.

A perfect example of tribalism. DeMint is a conservative; therefore anyone who criticizes him only claims to be a conservative. Compromise and moderation are the enemies, purity is all that matters. Never mind that DeMint didn’t pass a single piece of legislation in his 8 years in the Senate, that he caused major problems in the Republican caucuses in both houses of Congress, and that his views are so extreme that he thinks gay and pregnant teachers should be fired. Circle the wagons! Eject anyone who criticizes a fellow conservative!

Actually, I like this very much. Please continue fighting among yourselves.

He’s a pol whose entire style of conservatism – all or nothing, no compromise, no accounting for changes in public habits and opinions — is not true to the tradition of Edmund Burke, Russell Kirk and others.

Has this ridiculous hack ever read ONE WORD of Edmund Burke? I have, and I can tell you, with 100% confidence, that even socialists are truer to the tradition of Edmund Burke than any of today’s Republicans, “moderate” or otherwise. But yeah, it is kinda fun to watch all these morans screaming their heads off at each other every time reality rears its ugly head.

Hey Icthyic, how I am ignorant of the real issue? I agree with Ed’s post, but this is the second post in a row in which he got DeMinted’s position on pregnant teachers wrong and I was pointing it out to him to correct it. But I guess accuracy is not important to you.

Because it distorts Deminted’s position (yes, I refer to him as that on purpose!). Saying that he wants a ban on all women teaching while pregnant is far different than his actual position, which is that unmarried pregnant women should not be allowed to teach. While both positions would be outrageous, one clearly would affect way more people than the other. So, if someone reading Ed’s posts about Deminted didn’t know the Senator’s actual position, they would believe something that was not true. I don’t see anything wrong with me bringing it to Ed’s attention to correct an admittedly minor detail. If it was my blog post, I would welcome such a reader bringing it to my attention. Or do I need to personally clear it with you next time what I can or can’t bring to Ed’s attention regarding any mistakes he makes in a blog post?